During his visit to Uzbekistan, Balakrishnan Rajagopal plans to study the issues of ensuring and realizing the right to housing at the legislative level and in practice. In addition, he will analyze the availability of housing, its cost, suitability for living, as well as the effectiveness of protection mechanisms against forced eviction.

On August 20, 2024, Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Feruza Eshmatova met with Special Rapporteur Balakrishnan Rajagopal and Head of the Secretariat of the Special Rapporteur Gunnar Teyssen. The meeting was also attended by Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Centre, Jamshid Urunov, Deputy Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights and Legitimate Interests of Business Entities under the President of Uzbekistan, Sattor Rakhmatov, Head of Department of the Authorized Person for Children's Rights of the Oliy Majlis, and Eldiyor Toshmatov, Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.

During the meeting, special attention was paid to such issues as the creation of effective mechanisms aimed at protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens when considering appeals, as well as permanent legislation in this area.

It is noted that during 2020-2023, the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman) received more than 5 thousand appeals from citizens on issues related to housing. As a result of consideration of these appeals, 1 billion 305 million sums of compensation payments were recovered in favor of citizens. In the course of interaction, the need to raise the legal awareness of the population in this area was emphasized. In this regard, the importance of holding “Ombudsman School” events, which are held throughout the country and aimed at raising the legal awareness of citizens, was emphasized.

Also, at the meeting were representatives of the Presidential Ombudsman for the Protection of the Rights and Legitimate Interests of Entrepreneurs and the Children's Ombudsman.

During the conversation, Special Rapporteur Balakrishnan Rajagopal, recognizing the reforms undertaken in Uzbekistan to strengthen the legal framework for the protection of citizens' rights to housing, including the provision of housing for low-income groups, touched upon the relevance of the Ombudsman institution. He also expressed interest in strengthening close cooperation with Ombudsman institutions.

Press Service of the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman)